[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF HELEN CRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 13, 2010

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Helen Cram and her substantial contributions to political and civic 
life in Prince William County.
  Ms. Cram's political career began when she spent the fall of 1952 
handing out ``grip cards'' for her father's successful candidacy for 
North Dakota State Secretary. The family's victory launched Ms. Cram 
into a political career that spanned over four decades and consisted of 
positions in the offices of local, state and federal elected officials.
  After two sessions as a Page in the North Dakota House of 
Representatives and six years in the personal office of a Public 
Service Commissioner, Ms. Cram moved to Virginia. She joined the staff 
of the late U.S. Senator from North Dakota, Quentin Burdick, in 1962 
and remained in his office for six years. She spent the rest of her 
time in the federal government working for U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, 
Jr. until she retired in 1982. Discovering that retirement life was not 
for her, Ms. Cram ended her retirement one month later when she went to 
work for Delegate David Brickley in the Virginia General Assembly. Ms. 
Cram served as Delegate Brickley's legislative assistant until 1998.
  Throughout her time as a public servant Ms. Cram has remained active 
in Democratic politics. Ms. Cram became a member of the Prince William 
County Democratic Committee in 1970 and served seventeen years as 
secretary of that committee. She was Campaign Manager many times for 
David Brickley for Delegate; served as Campaign Manager for Chuck 
Colgan for Senate in 1988; was co-campaign manager with Charlie Gnadt 
for Prince William County for Senator Harry Byrd; managed five 
magisterial districts for Paul Ebert for Commonwealth's Attorney; she 
was the campaign treasurer for Leo Harrison and Lyle Cram when they 
each ran for Woodbridge District Board of County Supervisors, and 
served as campaign manager for the Prince William County Road Bond 
Committee in 1985. She also served for a short time as the aide to the 
late Coles Magisterial District Supervisor, G. Richard Pfitzner, when 
he was on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
  Somehow Ms. Cram also found time to volunteer for several community 
organizations in Prince William County. She served on the Board of 
Directors for the American Red Cross; held every office of the 
Woodbridge Little League Ladies Auxiliary; was District Director for 
the Little League Ladies Auxiliaries for District 9 (Prince William and 
part of Fairfax Counties); and was a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of 
America Troop 1357. Ms. Cram has been the IRS Volunteer Income Tax 
Assistance Program coordinator at Potomac Library for thirty-one years. 
She currently serves as secretary to the Prince William County Board of 
Elections and has been on the Board nine years.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending Helen 
Cram; a truly dedicated community activist. I would like to extend my 
personal appreciation to Ms. Cram for her immeasurable impact on the 
Prince William community.

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